Samsung is releasing two new “premium” Google Chromebooks that offer hardware and software improvements not available on most standard models. They borrow many features from Samsung’s tablets, including a touch screen, a stylus and an Android app store to extend the app offerings. The hope is that the new versions will attract a broader range of consumers than the K-12 students who mostly use Chromebooks now. Currently, Chromebooks are stripped-down laptops that don’t function well in the absence of a Wi-Fi connection.
Samsung’s Chromebook Plus starts selling Sunday for $449. The Chromebook Pro, with a faster processor, will come out in late April for $549. That’s cheaper than MacBooks and many Windows laptops, but still high for Chromebooks. Budget models sell for less than $200.
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Both new Chromebooks have 360-degree hinges so that the screens can flip over into a tablet mode. This makes them similar to “2 in 1” Windows offerings, which use hinges or have detachable keyboards to turn laptops into tablets. One oddity: With the screen faceup, the keyboard is on the back. Though typing is disabled in that mode, it feels odd in your hands.
